Advertising and amusement device



April 19, 1938. 1. A. MANGOLD 2,114,657

ADVERTISING AND AMUSEMENT DEVlCE Filled Aug. 12, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 April 19, 1938. J. A. MANGOLD ADVERTISING AND AMUSEMENT DEvlcE Filed Aug. 12, 1937 5 sheets-sheet :s

u l I Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of card picture and sign exhibiting and pertains particularly to an improved combined exhibiting device and amusement apparatus.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide a novel advertising `display mechanism in combination with an amusement device making use of puppets with a novel mechanism coupling the amusement and display device whereby the display device will control the operation of the amusement device to effect the intermittent operation of the latter, and by this means serve to first attract the attenion of passersby and then exhibit the display material after the amusement device has stopped functioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a puppet show mechanism a novel means for suspending and joggling 'the puppets so as to give to them life-like movements in the execution of the play or show which they are putting on.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a puppet show in the nature of a boxing match, lnovel means whereby the boxers when in action will appear to go into clinches.

Still `'another object of the invention is to provide in an exhibiting mechanism a novel card holding frame and means for progressively moving each of a series .of the same into .a desired exhibiting position.

The Yinvention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined vto rany strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but maybe changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark `1,10 material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a device constructed in acco-rdance with the present `invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the device taken in la. plane parallel with the front wall thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is va View in elevation of Vone of the card holding frames constituting a novel element of the invention.

Fig. 'l is a sectional view on the line `I I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 'of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 7 but showing a card partly in position therein.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on the line IIl IU of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to thedrawings, the numeral I generally designates a cabinet structure having two front openings 2 and 3 which respectively constitute areas for the display of advertisement carrying units and the puppets or show mechanism with the apparatus for operating the same. These two iront openings look into chambers formed by the partitioning wall 4 which thus forms the cabinet into the chambers 5 and 6.

Extending across the opening 2 are the depending and upstanding walls l and 8 respectively, and transversely of the central part of the chamber 6 there extends the shaft 9 which at o-ne end is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing opening 'III in a .side wall while its other end extends through the bearing I I in the partition wall 4 and into .the mechanism chamber 5 where it carries the spiral gear I2.

At the end of the shaft 9 remote from the wall 4 there is secured to the adjacent wall of the cabinet the cam block I3 through which the shaft 9 passes, and this cam block has a rounded top cam surface 4 and a cam point I5 at the rear side -of the rounded topi surface, as` is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Secured to the shaft 9 adjacent the partition wall 4 is a wheel IE and at the opposite end the shaft carries a similar wheel I'I which` is disposed inwardly from the cam block I3. Interposed between these wheels I6 is a series of exhibit card carrying frames., each of which is generally designated I8, and Aeach of these frames consists o1" the top and bottom bars I9 and 2G respectively, and the connecting side bars ZI. The to-p and bottom bars are -of channel formation, being preferably formed of a suitable weight of metal which can be bent into this form, and as is clearly shown in Figs. '7 and 9, each of the tcp and bottom bars has one side of greater width than the other. I'hese sides of the bars are both disposed upon the same side of the frame so that the insertion of an exhibit card such as is indicated at 22, Ais easily effected.

The -end edges of a card, after having its side edges engaged in the channel bars, as illustrated in Fig. 9, are held by clamp units 23 which are pivotally mounted on the side bars 2i. Each clamp unit consists of two V-shaped wires 23a disposed in side-by-side relation and joined together at the ends of two adjacent arms by a pivot yoke 23h which passes through an opening 2W in the bar 2|. One arm at the other end of the V is turned to form a latch finger 23c which engages n the opening 2lb when the clamp is in card-holding position, thus pointing the apices of Cil the wires inwardly and locating the wires of each clamp on opposite sides of the inserted card 22. The dotted line illustration of the clamps 23 in Fig. G, shows the positions to which the clamps are moved prior to inserting or removing a card.

Extending from the ends of the top bar I9 of each frame are the trunnions 24 and 25, and these trunnions respectively pass through apertures in the wheels l5 and i1 so that the frame may be suspended therefrom. The trunnion 25 is provided with the right angularly extending crank arm 25, which lies between the wheel i1 and the adjacent wall ci' the cabinet so that as the wheels are turned by the shaft 9 this crank of each card frame will be brought first into contact with the cam point i5, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to cause the frame to swing rearwardly and upwardly in the cabinet. lt will then ride over the rounded top surface if: of the cam to complete the upward and forward swing of the frame so` as to bring it into position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The width of the frames i3 is such that when a frame has been raised to a vertical position over the cam E3 and then falls forwardly, its bottom bar Zi@ will come to rest against the rear of the top flange 1 of the display opening, and as will be seen the arrangement of parts is such that two frames will normally rest against the flange 1 and thus if an air current should strike the forward one of these frames it will be prevented by the next rear one from being blown back into the cabinet as the crank arm of the next succeeding frame will contact with the curved surface i-l of the cam and prevent this movement.

The trunnions of the series of card frames are equidistantly spaced throughout the circular extent of the wheei to which they are attached so that there will always be a series of frames in hanging position and two frames in the vertical forwardly inclined position with intermediate ones moving up. As the forward one of the upper display frame i8 passes beneath the top flange 1, it will swing forwardly and downwardly bygravity, and this downward swinging movement is checked by means of the spring latch 21 which is secured to the side wall of the cabinet in a position where a side bar of the frame will ride across the nose portion 22 and cause the latch to be exed so as to allow the frame to pass. This latch in addition to checking the downward movement of a dropping frame, also prevents rebound of the frame, thus stopping it in the desired display position.

The front portion of the exhibit chamber 5 in which the hereinafter described puppets are displayed, has an upper front wall 29 and within the chamber 5 behind this wall there are mounted the two electric motors 35i and 3l. The motor 3Q is connected through suitable reducing gear mechanism which is not illustrated, with a shaft 32 which extends forwardly over the worm gear i2 to a bearing 33 which supports its forward end. Upon this shaft is a worm fifi which is in mesh with the worm gear and with the reducing gear mechanism of the motor which cuts down the rotation of the shaft 32 to approximately fifty revolutions per minute, and due to the ratio of the worm 34 to the gear i2 the shaft 9 is caused to rotate about one-hali revolution per minute.

The numeral 35 generally designates the current supply line for the twomotors and the wires 36 carry the current in to the motor 30 through the switch mechanism 31 while the main line wires pass into the cabinet tol a switch 38 of the pull-chain type. Such a switch is of well known construction and includes an arm 39 to which a suitable pull element in the form of a chain or rod may be attached. In the present case, this arm 39 has connected with it the pull link 40 which leads to a pivot 4i secured eccentrically to the worm wheel I2.

Detachably connected with the pull switch socket 38 is a plug 4i which takes off current from this switch and carries it by means of the wires 42 to the motor 3i. The motor 3l is suspended by a suitable bracket 43 and this bracket also supports a shaft 44 and a gear 45, the gear 45 being in mesh with a much smaller gear 46 which is coupled with the shaft of the motor. Thus the number cf revolutions of the shaft 44 is greatly reduced from the revolutions of the motor shaft.

The shaft 44 carries a bar 41 upon one end of which is attached the weight 43. At its other end the bar has a suitable opening to receive the laterally turned end of a two-part suspension rod 49. The two parts of this rod are coupled together by a swivel 58 and the other end of the rod carries a hook or eye 5I through which is engaged the elongated or elliptical ring 52 which is formed at the central part of a yoke bar 53. This yoke bar constitutes, a supporting means for a pair of puppets, each of which is indicated by the numeral 54, and the puppets are connected by fine wires or threads 55 with the ends of the bar 53 which are here illustrated as being in the form of hooks 56.

The puppets 54 are designed to represent boxers and each is provided with boxing gloves 51 from which project spurs 58.

In the operation of the present apparatus, both motors 30 and 3l will run together until the wheel i2 has made one revolution, where upon the beginning of the second revolution the rod 40 will pull the arm 39 of the pull switch so as to shut off the ow of current to the motor 3| which operates the puppets. During the running of the motor 3| the puppets will be given a joggling which will cause them to swing about and thus appear to be boxing, and this movement is made particularly realistic by reason of the elliptical ring or loop 52 which will permit a slight slipping of the yoke bar 53 and by reason of the spurs 58 upon the gloves of the puppets, which will cause them to intermittently cling together as boxers do when in a clinch. This operation of the puppets is designed to draw the attention of persons passing the display, and after the puppets have been operated for a period of time the switch 38 will be opened in the manner described so that the p-uppet show will be discontinued, but the motor 39 will continue to run and thus continue to bring into View in the opening 2 the cards carried by the several frames I8 which are pivotally suspended between the wheels I6 and I1. By this means the device will operate to draw a crowd and then; the crowds attention will be taken off of the puppet show and directed to the advertising matter instead of being continuously drawn to the amusement part of the apparatus.

By the provision of the switch 31 the motor 30 may be stopped and the puppet show continued indenitely so that it will be apparent that the device may be used as a combined advertising and amusement mechanism or may be employed merely as an amusement device or by removing the coupling plug 4I from the socket of the switch 38, the show may be discontinued and the advertising mechanism continued in operation.

By providing the suspension rod 49 with the 75 swivel 50 to connect the two parts of the rod, the yoke 53 is permitted to revolve so that the relative positions of the boxer puppets will be constantly changing and therefore the puppets will be made to more accurately similate the movements of living boxers.

What is claimed, is:

l. In a display novelty, the combination of mechanism for successively presenting display material to the View, attention-attracting means in the nature of a puppet show, power means for animating the puppets of the show, and mechanism actuated periodically by the display material operating mechanism which is so constructed and arranged that the puppet animating power means will be stopped for spaced periods while the display presenting mechanism is ccntinuing in operation.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, means for presenting a plurality of members to view including a rotary unit to which the members are connected to have movement imparted thereto, a crank connected with and rotated by said unit, show means including movable puppets, electrically operated mechanism which when energized animates said puppets, a switch for controlling the iovv of electric current to said mechanism, and means connecting said crank and switch together operating to alternately open and close the switch as the crank rotates.

3. In an advertising novelty including a rotary shaft operating advertising displays, a stage adjacent the said displays, characters on the stage, means suspending the characters for free movement, said suspending means including an electric motor and means for imparting a life-like movement to the characters when the motor is energized, means for conducting electric current to the motor, an electric switch controlling said current conducting means, and means controlled by the display operating shaft for periodically opening and closing said switch.

4. In an exhibit of the character described, a prime mover, a jointed rod vertically disposedI and connected at one end to said prime mover in a manner to be vertically reciprocated thereby, a yoke comprising a body having a centrally arranged elongated loop, means loosely coupling the other end of the rod with said loop, the long axis of the loop being horizontally disposed, and puppets suspended by flexible suspension means from said yoke.

5. In an exhibit of the character described, a shaft, means for rotating the same, a crank attached to the shaft to turn therewith, a rod formed in two parts joined by a swivel, the rod at one end having a laterally turned portion passing through an aperture in the crank, a yoke consisting of a bar formed to have an elliptical longitudinally extending loop intermediate its ends, said loop passing through an eye at the other end of said rod, a thin exible cord suspended from each end of the yoke bar, and a puppet suspended from each cord.

6. In a puppet show of the character described, a pair of puppets simulating boxers, means for suspending and joggling the puppets to simulate natural motion therein, the puppet boxers having boxing gloves, and means projecting from each boxers glove for tangling with the means of the gloves of the other boxer to simulate clinching.

7. In a display device, a cabinet having a front opening with a depending ange across the top thereof, a shaft transversely of the opening, wall supporting means at each end of the shaft, a wheel secured upon the shaft at each end thereof and concentric therewith, a plurality of frames each having a side edge in parallel relation with the shaft and in opposed relation at each end with a wheel, a trunnion extending from each of said edge ends through the adjacent wheel, all of the trunnions passing thru one wheel having a laterally turned crank, a cam secured between the said one wheel and adjacent wall and having a surface adapted to be engaged by the cranks as the wheels and shaft rotate together and relative to the cam, the said cam Surface having an inwardly projecting point upon the side of the shaft away from said opening and in a plane above the shaft whereby rotation of the wheels in one direction will bring the ends of the cranks successively under and over the point and swing they attached frame rearwardly and upwardly and then forwardly toward the opening, and said cam point merging into a rounded top surface over which the cranks pass to maintain at least two of the frames in forwardly inclined position and leaning at their top edges against the rear of said depending ange.

8. A display card holder, comprising a frame having top and bottom bars connected at their ends by end bars, each of said top and bottom bars being channeled and the channels being in opposed relation, the side walls of the channels being of greater depth on one side of the frame than upon the other whereby the side walls of greatest depth will guide into the channels the top and bottom edges of a card inserted from the side of the frame remote from said last side walls, and a pair of members projecting in spaced relation inwardly from each side bar of the frame to receive an end edge of a card therebetween.

9. A display card holder, comprising a frame having top and bottom bars connected together at their ends by perpendicular end bars, said top and bottom bars having their opposing sides channeled and having one side wall of the channel of greater height than the other, the said side walls of the channels being upon the same side of the frame, a pair of shiftable clamp members each supported by an end bar and each comprising two spaced V-Shaped wires joined together by a pivot yoke extended through an aperture in the supporting bar, and a laterally turned latch linger forming an integral part of one wire of each pair and adapted to engage in a receiving aperture in the adjacent supporting bar whereby the apices of the two wires will be directed inwardly of the frame when the clamp is in card-holding position.

l0. In an amusement device, a pair of puppets simulating boxers, mechanism coupled with the puppets which is so constructed and arranged as to cause the same to take on life-like movements in simulation of boxers in action, and means for effecting the chance holding of the puppets together while in motion to simulate clinching.

JOI-IN A. MANGOLD. 

